The 1995 K2 Disaster

In the late K2 summer climbing season, the remnants of several unsuccessful expeditions would make one last attempt at the summit, but after they would finally the favorable weather window they needed, things would start to go amiss...

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I also apologize for my gravelly voice in this one, I was pretty sick all week :(

[Chris.Davies]

RIP Bruce Grant.
Just before he left for K2, I was chatting to him on the paraglider landing field below Skyline gondola in Queenstown, where we had both just landed. I asked him what he would do when he got back from K2, and he said, "I don't know". And it was at that time I knew he would not return from the mountain. I knew Bruce would not be deterred from summitting, and that he'd take his chances on the descent. On the day he died, I experienced a very strange event. I was sitting in my lounge, very early in the morning. I suddenly felt like I was falling backwards - just like experiencing a full stall in a paraglider. The falling feeling lasted maybe 5 seconds, and then it stopped. Then I shivered uncontrollably for about 10 seconds, before the feeling dissipated. I had no idea why I felt this.
Later in the morning, in the changing room at the Coronet Peak Ski School, Nick Grant (also RIP due to cancer) arrived, and looked awful. I asked him what was up, and he said Bruce was missing on K2. And it was at that moment I knew he was gone. To this day, I've never experienced anything like what happened the day Bruce died, and I have no explanation for it. Bruce and I were work colleagues, but we were not close friends. Just coincidence, I reckon.
Subsequently, a brass sculpture of a hand holding an ice axe was installed at hole 8 of the Queenstown Gardens Disc Golf Course to commemorate him. And the legend, "I hold the heights. I own the dreams I won." appears on the sculpture. We renamed the hole "Visiting Bruce" in his honour.

[lisaperry]

Glad you covered this.
Idk who said this in the mountaineering community "summiting is optional getting down is mandatory."

[blankspace]

It seems that beyond a certain level, true skill in mountaineering has little to do with technical prowess but rather the ability to make confident decisions about when it is appropriate to continue or turn back at any given time on a mountain.

[AndyG]

If I was next to the son of Hilary and he said 'I have a bad feeling about this' I will immediately turn back down.

[jcrabtree]

"No one expects the SPANISH EXPEDITION!!!"

[kvltizt]

You are single handedly carrying my need for mountaineering content right now.

[drats]

People have got to know their limitations. Too often things get in their way such as ego, reputations, resumes, and bravado. High price to pay. The thoughts of Mr. Hillary after the tragedy were very profound.

[danadoozer]

I'm completely obsessed with K2 for unknown reasons and you did a really great job telling the tale of this tragedy. I've read about it and the disaster in 2008 and I always find myself wondering what it felt like to spend the night on a cold and lonely mountain, in the death zone not knowing if you'll make it through the night. It's got to be the loneliest feeling in the world!

[smoothmicra]

Yep, K2 likes to kill people but I just love the view from the summit...that someone else has filmed...and put on YouTube so I can watch it while toasty warm in bed. Much less chance of being swept away in a violent storm as well. Stay tuned for more top tips.👍

[badkarma]

I grew up on the same street as Jeff. Last time I saw him he was training for K2. We were drinking beer with friends at the glass shop, in the neighborhood. It might as well been a bar. We talked about climbing and commercial diving. His and my person passions. We were planning on teaching each other, our fields of expertise. He was full of life, he taught me alot about life. See you on the otherside one day brother. Happy Climbing

[zoed]

That was great coverage of the disaster. K2 is the deadliest mountain, and one of four people that attempt to climb it die. It was nice to see you honor each person that died in this disaster at the end. Thanks for the video.

[RichardTucker-xuic]

I'm scared to death of heights so I live vicariously through their actions. I'm a 73 year old widower who still rides my 1916 cc motorcycle. You do a great job of telling these stories and watch them whenever I can. Thanks again.

[nangnation]

been in a mountaineering content hole for the last week and very glad i found your channel after exhausting all of david snow's collection of docos

[dontwanagivit]

So sad how this was only a month after Hargreaves summited Everest without extra oxygen.. so fresh from an immense personal and professional success. :(

[jazzcat]

I summit all your videos to the end without supplemental oxygen or sherpas.

[markusbrauns]

Before anyone attempts K2 or Everest, seriously ask yourself, What's more important, living or summiting? It may really come down to that.

[blaydeesy]

Although he didn’t survive, what Jeff Lakes achieved on that descent was more impressive than anything else I’ve read or listened to.

[howieduin]

Sometimes when I listen to these videos at night, I get up on the top bunk so that I can experience the feeling of heights.

[lisaperry]

Allison's son, Tom Ballard, died on Nanga Parbat in 2019 . His climbing partner Daniel Nardi disappeared as well.
Edit: The Last Mountain is a documentary about Allison's family and her daughter and her dad visit the areas her mum and brother died.

[scottspears]

I doubt anyone has ever ascended one of the great mountains without understanding in great detail the risk involved. There is little comfort in this for those left behind, but if your passions in life lead you to peril, to die in a moment of greatness is by far preferable to any other sort of end. Too few of us live our lives in a manner worth remembering. Whether reckless or brave, these are great men and women.